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Wales Online
08-08-2025
- Health
- Wales Online
This is what happened when I drank and ginger and turmeric shot every day for a month
This is what happened when I drank and ginger and turmeric shot every day for a month Some of what happened was surprising. Ian Craig (left) drank a ginger and turmeric shot every morning for a month (Image: Ian Craig) Like a lot of people, I spent most of my younger years thinking I was invincible, only to hit my 30s and suddenly find myself having to think about things like cholesterol and blood pressure. With 2025 heralding the start of my fourth decade on Earth, I'm giving anything that'll help keep my decaying body from falling apart for a few more days a try. There are an awful lot of wonder-products out there claiming to make you into some kind of bulletproof superhuman. I can't look at social media without seeing someone with impossibly-sculpted abs and very white teeth trying to sell me some kind of potion, pill, or powder that'll apparently make me feel two decades younger. It's difficult to know which of these will actually do what they say on the tin - and with some costing a small fortune, you could end up shelling out a lot of money for zero reward. The health benefits of ginger and turmeric are well-documented, and you can buy ready-made bottled shots from most supermarkets and health stores, but priced at least £2 a go, the cost can soon add up. On the other hand, it's simple to make your own at home with a pre-mixed powder, which is a lot cheaper. I opted for a 100g Nutrazen pack available on Amazon. At £9.99 - down from its usual price of £12.99 - the financial barrier was much lower. At £9.99 it's way cheaper than buying the individual bottles (Image: Ian Craig) It contains ginger, turmeric, orange, and cayenne pepper and the packet contains 100 servings, which, assuming you have one per day, is enough for more than three months. All you have to do is add a scoop to a small glass of water, give it a vigorous stir, and down the hatch. Slightly annoyingly the suggested measurement is one third of a teaspoon - if you can get a measuring spoon that size... I've certainly never seen one. I compromised by using a half-teaspoon measuring spoon and not filling it all the way. After a couple of days I eventually settled on just having half a teaspoon - so slightly more than the package suggested. I ended up using a bit more than suggested (Image: Ian Craig) The suggested measurement of water is 100ml, and for the first couple of days I used a measuring jug to get the amount right, but once I'd got the hang of roughly how much that was I just did it by eye. I eventually found I preferred to use a little less water as 100ml diluted the taste and kick of the powder a little too much for my liking. The taste of the shot is pretty pleasing - the taste of the ginger and turmeric are there, but far less pronounced than I expected, and the cayenne pepper gives it a nice warming kick, just the ticket to give you a bit of pep first thing in the morning. It was easy to incorporate into my morning routine, the whole process takes less than a minute. The packet suggests mixing it into other drinks like tea, juices, or smoothies, which I did try, but the problem is the powder settles pretty quickly once it's stirred in, so you need to drink it right away, which isn't usually a great idea with a steaming hot cup of coffee. Although it was quite nice in green tea and fresh black coffee, ultimately I found just having it as a shot first thing in the morning was the easiest way to do things. It needs to be stirred quite vigorously for the powder to dissolve (Image: Ian Craig) As for the health benefits - well, after a month I haven't developed superpowers, but I do feel a bit brighter and bushy-tailed first thing in the morning. I'm anything but a morning person, so the extra pep to get up and about first thing is welcome. As for other benefits, it's difficult to say - but perhaps the fact that my partner got a cold during the month which I managed to avoid is an indicator of the difference it was making. The fact is, it's easy, quick, and cheap, so what have you got to lose? I'll keep having a ginger and turmeric shot every morning, and who knows, this time next year maybe I'll have the strongest immune system ever seen (or at least in my house). I eventually settled on using a bit less water than this so it wasn't as diluted (Image: Ian Craig) Article continues below What are the health benefits of ginger and turmeric? According to ginger and turmeric both come from the same plant family, Zingiberaceae, and have long been used in herbal medicine. Here are some of the health benefits of the spices.
Wales Online
15-07-2025
- Health
- Wales Online
I stopped breathing more than 20 times every night - one change improved everything
I stopped breathing more than 20 times every night - one change improved everything Struggling with sleep can make your whole day a lot more difficult I used to stop breathing more than 20 times a night then something changed my life (Image: Ian Craig ) There are few things more important to your overall wellbeing than getting a good night's sleep. And nothing brings that into sharper focus than failing to achieve it. It's something I've had problems with all my adult life — I dread to think how many hours I've spent staring at the ceiling into the wee small hours, completely unable to nod off despite being really tired. And when I eventually do manage to drift off, when my alarm goes off just a few hours later I feel no better than I did when I tucked myself in, and spend the rest of the day in a barely-conscious haze. I had a boss once who used to say there was little point in asking me to do something before midday. As for solutions, you name it, I've tried it. I can highly recommend an hour of non-screen time before bed, but having a nightcap before turning in only makes it harder to get up the next morning in my experience. After years of struggling I finally decided enough was enough and asked my GP to refer me to my local health board's sleep team. It took five years to get an appointment (the small matter of a global pandemic might have played a part in that) but I finally got to see a specialist late last year. My lovely partner had told me I sometimes stop breathing when I'm asleep, and the health board's sleep team told me I'd stopped breathing no fewer than 22 times the night I was monitored, a condition known as sleep apnoea. That sounds like a lot — and obviously it's not ideal — but apparently that's actually considered fairly mid-range when it comes to sleep apnoea. People with severe cases can stop breathing 30 times or more in a single night. Article continues below I'd heard about CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure) machines, but to the best of my knowledge I'd never actually seen one. It was a bit of a surprise then to be presented with a surprisingly modern-looking piece of kit - a sleek black box roughly the size of a breadbin, with a long hose attached to a silicon mask. The machine fits nicely on my bedside table (Image: Ian Craig ) The machine works by keeping your airways open by feeding pressurised air through the mask. The steady stream of air means your airways stay open and you don't stop breathing. On putting the mask on for the first time, my first thought was that I looked a bit like Bane from Batman film The Dark Knight Rises. Sadly I don't look like Tom Hardy when I take it off. Nobody cared who I was until I put on the mask (Image: Ian Craig ) There are quite a few settings on the machine to adjust, but ultimately it's really as simple as pressing a button to turn it on and off again when you wake up. I'm supposed to use it whenever I sleep, including if it's just a little afternoon nap — and it's surprising how quickly I got used to it. I expected I'd struggle to sleep with a mask strapped tightly to my face, but really I barely notice it. The only really jarring thing is if I wake up while it's on full blast and blowing a jet of pressurised air into my lungs — but there's a button on the machine to get it to release the pressure when that happens. It's also nowhere near as loud as I expected. I'd anticipated something in the region of a jet engine next to my bed, but it's really not even as loud as a desk fan. That is, unless you take the mask off or the hose out while it's turned on, upon which it makes an alarmingly vicious sucking noise. Lesson learned. It also has an optional compartment on the side which you can fill with about a mug-worth of boiled water, which keeps moisture in the air in blows into your lungs. There's also a handy app I can use to see how well I've slept each night, and it even sends data directly to the health board's sleep team. The wonders of modern technology. There's also an app I can use to monitor my breathing (Image: Ian Craig ) But there's no getting away from the fact that it's not the most elegant piece of machinery in the world. With a mask strapped to my face with a long hose trailing from it, I can't help but be reminded of that bit in Alien when a face-hugger creature attaches itself to John Hurt. Thankfully my long-suffering partner claims not to mind. But six months on, do I feel any different? To be honest: not really. I still wake up feeling barely rested — but the number of times I stop breathing in an average night is down from more than 20 to only two or three, which can only be a good thing. I'm told I'll have a follow-up appointment in two years, so perhaps I'll feel differently then. What is sleep apnoea? Sleep apnoea is when your breathing stops and starts when you sleep, the NHS says. Common symptoms include waking up a lot, loud snoring, and making gasping, snorting, or choking noises. During the day it can make you feel very tired and struggle to concentrate. Article continues below Without treatment it can lead to high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, and heart disease, and also increases the risk of having a stroke. There are also risks associated with tiredness, such as losing concentration while driving. Causes involve obesity, smoking and drinking alcohol, having a large neck, and suffering with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or COPD. It is also more common in older people. If you think you may be suffering with sleep apnoea, speak to your GP, who will be able to refer you to your local health board's sleep team.
The Independent
18-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Independent
Roald Dahl sketches sell for almost £24,000 at auction
Original drawings by Roald Dahl which were found in an envelope have sold for almost £24,000. The collection of sketches were produced by Dahl in black ball point pen for his memoir, Boy (1984), in which he describes his experience of growing up. They were found in an envelope marked 'Dahl's drawings & odds and sods', which belonged to Ian Craig (1944-2023), art director at the author's publishing firm, Jonathan Cape, in London. Mr Craig, who died in 2023, created the final illustrations for the book, inspired by Dahl's drawings. The sketches were auctioned as part of the production archive from the late Mr Craig's estate and sold for £23,940 when they went under the hammer at Lyon & Turnbull in Edinburgh on Wednesday. Dominic Somerville-Brown, Lyon & Turnbull's rare books & manuscripts specialist, said: 'This archive is unique in the Roald Dahl canon – it's very rare to find material by his own hand. 'This is reflected in the price achieved which also demonstrates the enduring popularity of his children's stories 35 years after his death.' Dahl died in 1990 aged 74 and Boy is the only book which he produced illustrations for during his career of almost five decades. In the book, he writes about his childhood exploits, including playing a prank with his friends on the local sweetshop owner, Mrs Pratchett, by putting a dead mouse in a gobstopper jar. To accompany the story, Dahl drew a mouse lying on top of the sweets with its legs in the air. The collection of sketches was bought by a single buyer who wished to remain anonymous. A collection of rare manuscripts from Kilravock Castle, near Nairn in Highlands, also went under the hammer on Wednesday. It included a selection of letters and documents signed by Mary Queen of Scots, her father, James V, son, James VI and I, and mother, Mary of Guise. The collection sold for £124,614 to a number of different buyers as part of Lyon & Turnbull's Books & Manuscript auction. Described as one of the most important collections of historical Scottish manuscripts ever offered for sale, it included a letter from Mary, Queen of Scots to the Laird of Kilravock, appointing him Sheriff for Inverness and dated September 26 1565. The letter, signed by both the Queen ('Marie R.') and her then husband, Henry Stewart, Earl of Darnley ('Henry R.') sold for £15,120. Another of her letters, again signed jointly by the pair, in which they remove the charge of Inverness Castle from the Laird of Kilravock and give it to the Earl of Huntly, dated October 9 1565, went for £11,340. A group of five letters from her mother, Mary of Guise, sold for £6,930. Cathy Tait, head of books & manuscripts at Lyon & Turnbull, said: 'We are absolutely delighted with the results of the archive from Kilravock Castle. 'There was a great deal of interest from a wide range of collectors, both private and institutional.' 'The documents sold today comprise a range of very old and important items, illuminating Scotland's history, and we are pleased that they have found good homes.' All prices include buyer's premium.
BBC News
18-06-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Roald Dahl's sketches for memoir sell at auction for £24,000
Original sketches done by children's author Roald Dahl for his memoir have sold for nearly £24, who was born in Llandaff, Cardiff, produced the sketches in black ballpoint pen for the book Boy, which was published in his almost five-decade long career, these are the only book sketches he ever sold in Edinburgh for £23,940 as part of Lyon & Turnbull's books and manuscripts sale on Wednesday. In the book, Dahl - who moved to Buckinghamshire and died in 1990 at the age of 74 - wrote about his childhood exploits, including playing a prank with his friends on the local sweetshop owner, Mrs Pratchett, by putting a dead mouse in a gobstopper jar. To accompany this tale, Dahl drew a mouse lying on top of the sweets with its legs in the drawings were found in an envelope which belonged to the late Ian Craig, from Ipswich, who was art director at the author's publishing firm, Jonathan Cape, in sketches were sold as part of the production archive from Mr Craig's estate and included Mr Craig's own designs, as well as the publisher's original page layouts and Somerville-Brown, Lyon & Turnbull's rare books and manuscripts specialist said: "This archive is unique in the Roald Dahl canon – it's very rare to find material by his own hand."This is reflected in the price achieved which also demonstrates the enduring popularity of his children's stories 35 years after his death."
BBC News
16-06-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Roald Dahl original sketches for memoir to be auctioned
Roald Dahl's original sketches, created for his memoir, will be sold at auction after being found in an envelope. Dahl, who was born in the Cardiff suburb of Llandaff, produced the sketches in black ballpoint pen for the book Boy, which was published in 1984. He died in 1990 aged 74, and in his almost five-decade long career, these are the only book sketches he ever sketches will be sold in Edinburgh as part of Lyon & Turnbull's books and manuscripts sale on 18 June. The sketches are part of a collection estimated to sell for between £20,000 and £30, his memoir Dahl recalled various childhood exploits, including playing a prank with his friends on the local sweetshop owner Mrs Pratchett by putting a dead mouse in a gobstopper illustrate to prank, Dahl drew a mouse lying on top of the sweets with its legs in the drawings were found in an envelope marked "Dahl's drawings & odds and sods" which belonged to Ian Craig, the art director at publishing house Jonathan Cape. Mr Craig, who died in 2023, created the final illustrations for the book inspired by Dahl's also oversaw the production of the book and the archive includes his designs, as well as the original page layouts and Craig came up with the title, and received a letter from Dahl saying: "I must thank you for coming up with the first sensible title for my book. 'Boy' is fine. We all like it…"His widow, Kate Craig, who also worked at Jonathan Cape, said the publication of Boy was "on a very tight publication schedule". Dahl's usual illustrator, Quentin Blake, was "away on holiday," she said, so "Ian asked Dahl if he could help with the illustrations"."Dahl ended up producing a variety of sketches which Ian used as inspiration for his own drawings."Ian never got paid for the illustrations, but Dahl did give him one of his trademark blue cashmere cardigans as a thank you, which he treasured." Dominic Somerville-Brown, Lyon & Turnbull's rare books and manuscripts specialist, said: "It's absolutely thrilling to see Roald Dahl's one-of-a-kind, hand-drawn sketches up close."They are a unique addition to his canon and allow us to observe the transformation of his childhood memories into the printed form, a medium in which they would be cherished by generations of readers."Ian Craig undoubtedly played a key role in Dahl's publishing success, overseeing not only the production of Boy, but many more of his famous children's stories."This archive gives an insight into the creative processes behind a book still enjoyed by children across the world today." What was Roald Dahl's Cardiff connection? Dahl was born during World War One on 13 September 1916 in Llandaff. His Norwegian father Harald was a ship broker and he was named after polar explorer Roald AmundsenThe family moved to live in Radyr - a house called Ty Mynydd - in 1918He went to school in Llandaff until 1925, before being sent out of Wales to boarding schoolA blue plaque now marks the former sweet shop in Llandaff where Dahl and his friends played the famous trick on the owner, Mrs Pratchett
